Rise in Montana's average income ranks fifth in nation

HELENA - Average income in Montana climbed faster last year than in all but four other states, but still remains among the lowest in the country, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis reported Tuesday.

The agency said the 4.4 percent growth in per-capita personal income in Montana from 2002 was nearly twice the national average increase of 2.3 percent. The change also improved Montana's national income ranking from 45th to 44th, and means Montanans made 82 percent of what the typical American made during 2003.

However, a Montana economist cautioned that the new income figures are not necessaril...